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stream with a biological community. This decision is based on a finding <br /> that the original stream channel will not be disturbed, water quality and <br /> quantity shall not be adversely affected, and appropriate riparian vegetation <br /> will be reestablished. The buffer zone variance is granted for the water <br /> intake gallery, sediment pond and associated spillways and ditches, a <br /> railroad siding, the railroad loadout facility, a light-use road and a portion <br /> of the old Bear No. 1 and 2 Mines site. These facilities are located on the <br /> north and south banks of the North Fork of the Gunnison River. Figure 12 <br /> in the MCC permit shows the disturbed areas within the buffer zone. The <br /> Division approved this variance on August 6, 1981, according to <br /> Rule 4.05.18(1). This variance has been amended and clarified as a result <br /> of Minor Revision No. 111, approved December 16, 1993. <br /> K. Probable Hydrologic Consequences <br /> Under Rule 2.07.6(2)(c), the Division is required to make an assessment of the <br /> probable cumulative impacts of all anticipated coal mining in the general area, <br /> on the hydrologic balance and to make a finding (as discussed in Section A of <br /> this document) that the operations proposed in the permit application have been <br /> designed to prevent material damage to the hydrologic balance outside of the <br /> proposed permit area. This section of the findings document is divided into the <br /> following subsections: Description of the Hydrologic Environment, Probable <br /> Hydrologic Consequences of the West Elk Mine, and Summary and Findings. <br /> A separate Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Study (CHIS) is available for review <br /> at the Division of Minerals and Geology. The Cumulative Hydrologic Impact <br /> Study (CHIS) filed at the DMG office assesses the projected cumulative <br /> hydrologic impacts of all anticipated mining operations in the general area of <br /> the West Elk Mine on the North Fork of the Gunnison River Valley. <br /> 1. Description of the Hydrologic Environment <br /> a. Regional Geology <br /> For information regarding regional geology, see Section A, <br /> Description of the Environment, Geology in this Findings Document. <br /> b. Ground Water <br /> Seven categories of potential aquifers occur in the Somerset Coal <br /> Field. These are: 1) the alluvial and terrace deposits associated with <br /> the North Fork of the Gunnison River; 2) the localized, shallow <br /> alluvium along creeks tributary to the North Fork; 3) the <br /> discontinuous, lenticular and laminar sandstones of the Mesaverde <br /> Formation; 4) the Rollins Sandstone; 5) the coal seam; 6) shallow <br /> colluvial surficial deposits; and 7) fracture zones in bedrock. <br /> The most continuous sandstone aquifers of any significance in the <br /> region are the Rollins Sandstone and the massive sandstone separating <br /> 24 <br />